Stalked Jellyfish - Staurozoa

Characteristics:

Stalked jellyfishes do not have an alternation between a polyp and medusa stage. Most of them have a trumpet-shaped body with a stalk and a number of branches or arms with tentacles on the end. Eggs are spawned and form creeping larvae. The larva crawl around until it finds a suitable spot on a rock or algae. The stalked jellyfishes also practice asexual reproduction by splitting their body into new individuals.

Most species are found in cold waters, close to the shoreline.

Taxonomy:

All stalked jellyfishes are members of the order Stauromedusae, previously included in the class Scyphozoa. However, recent genetic studies have concluded that they should be in a separate class. Consequently, the only order in the new class Staurozoa is Stauromedusae.